East Of England 2004 Bitches by Mrs G Lewis

In general I was disappointed in heads many of which seemed to be overlong in foreface and lacking both stop and the raised brows which give our breed its lovely quizzical expression.

Also, quite a number of the bitches on view would not have looked out of place in the dog

ring for size. I know we don’t have a height standard but our bitches should still be feminine and elegant. Having said all that I was well pleased with my final line-up and delighted that my CC winner (her third I was told) went BOB with the agreement of my co-judge, and that my Best Puppy Bitch gained her J.W. on the day.

MPB. (6, 1). Disappointing class of very immature babies. 1. Reynards Holehan Northern

Dancer. Tall, rangy young lady with nice dark coat. Lovely reach of neck, though not

feminine enough in head for me. Straight front. Best mover when she got her act together. 2.

Wells and Davidson’s Benchmark Take a Chance on Me. Different type from the winner;

smaller, more compact and well-ribbed. Pretty head. Movement rather erratic. 3. Carr’s

Jonola Sparkles Bright over Lumidorn. Another rather rangy bitch at this stage. Nice head

and neck. Just needing to relax to show herself off better. PB. (7). 1. McLarnon’s

Northamber Baccarat via Kerryfair. Another quite rangy bitch but now beginning to body up

and mature. Well-shaped head though would like a ‘kinder’ expression. Good sweep of neck

into well-laid shoulders. Straight front. Well-balanced outline with good tail set. Moved ok.

BPB. 2. Reed’s Tatterslee Sunflower. Much smaller, more compact bitch. Pretty head and

nice neck, very smooth coat – just a little rounded in croup. Moved well when settled. 3.

Luto’s Rappatty Razzamatazz. Again a fairly tall bitch. Pretty head, good neck and front

angulation. Would like more width of thigh. Movement a bit erratic. JB. (23, 2).

Gorgeous class – several nice bitches had to go cardless. First three will change places many

times I’m sure. 1. Drinkwater’s Brabrook Red Rose. Have watched this bitch from a puppy

and think she is lovely. Feminine head with low ear set. Beautifully arched neck, sweeping

into well-laid shoulders. Gently sloping topline with good tail set. Good width of thigh with

great bend of stifle. Nice dark coat with plenty of furnishings for her age. Moved soundly –

though just an occasional tendency to move a little wide at the back which was to cost her a

higher place in a later class. 2. O’Connor’s Caispern Miss Austen. Another very pretty

bitch, though not so mature as my winner. Much the same comments apply – though not quite

the tail set of 1. Moved well and happily. 3. Roberts Caskeys Fennel. Again very pretty in

head – bigger bitch and slightly longer cast. Moved very well. MB. (14). 1. McLarnon’s

N. Baccarat of K. 2. Reed’s T. Sunflower. 3. Goodacres Satlas Evening Primrose. Short-

listed in the lovely Junior class. Well-made substantial bitch but not too big. Well-balanced

head but would prefer softer expression. Good bend of stifle. Moved ok. NB. (17). 1.

Griffin’s Corriebran Natane. I’m surprised this bitch is still in Novice. Pretty, well-balanced

head on nice reach of neck. Deep chest. Well-bodied, with good bend of stifle. Moved

soundly using her tail to good effect. 2. Douthwaite and Wharfe’s Gracewood True Magic.

Reserve in PB. Pretty head, straight front. Quite long cast. Would prefer a darker coat.

Movement ok. DB. (14). 1. Prangle’s Heathclare Magic Moments. Just out of Junior –

what a pity we didn’t have a SY class. Young lady really beginning to mature up. Quite

short-coupled but nevertheless well-balanced. Pretty head as one would expect from her

breeding, but perhaps just a little light in eye. Good fore-chest and depth of rib which should

look really good when her feathering grows in. Good bend of stifle. Moved happily. 2.

Davie’s Lochfrae Tommy Girl J.W. Rangier bitch than 1 – her profuse chest coat makes her

look rather ‘front heavy’ at the moment. She nevertheless has lovely lines with a pretty head.

Moved well. 3. Hall’s Kirkavagh Neolanta at Glennara. Another quite tall bitch. Lovely

reach of neck so typical of her breeding, though would prefer more work in her head. Well-

balanced outline – still needs coat. Moved ok. GB. (19, 6). 1. Webb’s Caspians Amity

J.W. My kind of bitch. Medium sized with balanced outline. Feminine head with lovely ear

set - would like to see her better trimmed - she deserves it! Deep chest with good front

angulation. Good width of thigh. Moved soundly. I am sure she has a great future. 2.

Waterton’s Lynwood Strands of Silk at Sandstream J.W. Another very pretty bitch with a

terrific length of neck. Gently sloping topline with a good tail set. Just needs the furnishings

to complete the picture. 3. Sketchley’s Kerrimere Shining Star. More substantial bitch than

1 or 2, with not quite the neck, though I am not in favour of overlong ‘swan’ necks. Deep

chest. Moved very soundly. PGB. (18, 3). 1. Townsend’s Follidown Red Hot Poker J.W.

3-year old bitch just maturing and coming into her own. Pretty head, deep chest with good

front angulation. Well-balanced with nice dark coat. Good bend of stifle. Moved really

soundly and happily. RCC. 2. Rance and Oakley’s Caspians Modesty J.W. I see this is the

litter sister to my Graduate winner and much the same comments apply. Very feminine with

lovely arched neck. Well-boned with neat feet. Moved well. 3. Yates’ Cantera Phoenix.

Taller bitch in good coat. Again a pretty head. Longer cast than 1 or 2, though still well-

balanced. Lovely arched neck, deep chest. Super mover. MLB. (6, 2). Smith’s Reddins

Quiz. Small compact bitch with terrific front angulation. Sweet head on nice arched neck.

Tending to brace herself at the back but came together on the move. 2. Powis’ Amberwave

Spangle J.W. Taller, longer-cast bitch – quite different type to 1. In good coat. Narrower at

front, though deep chest and width of thigh. Moved ok. 3. Mugford’s Promises Promises to

Gimaroch . Another small bitch with a pretty head. Not so sound on movement as 1 or 2.

LB. (11, 3). 1. Ciechonska’s Aoibheannes Piaffe J.W. Again my type of bitch, small and

well-balanced with a pretty head, good ear set and nice arched – though not overlong – neck.

Good front angulation with good fore-chest. Deep in rib. Good bend of stifle and well-set on

tail which she used to pleasing effect on the move. CC & BOB. 2. Kavanagh’s Withersdale

Kupola. More robust bitch with not quite the sweep of neck as my winner. A very nice bitch

though and fully deserving of her recent honours. Moved well. 3. Rubio’s Cervantes Gimli

Gloin. New one to me. Again a very expressive head with good reach of neck. Longer cast.

Moved well. OB. (4). 1. Muir’s Romarne Melissa J.W. Well-known bitch which has

recently made top honours. Very eye-catching, dripping in gleaming dark coat. Beautiful

arched neck, terrific depth of chest and bend of stifle. A bit too substantial for me and not as

refined in head as I like. Moved soundly. 2. Stockton’s Sh. Ch. Clonageera Inspiration for

Kespas. More feminine bitch than 1 with pretty head. Would prefer darker coat. Just seemed

to lack sparkle today. 3. McCleave’s Ir. Sh. Ch. Raesha Caoimhe. 6 year old bitch just

beginning to show her age. Moved soundly.

Gill Lewis (Judge)